Fireman [X-E3, XF10-24mm ƒ/4 R OIS, ISO 200, ƒ/4, 1/80]I want them to understand getting close means that they move their feet until they are right next to the subject. The distance you would have a conversation with them over a cup of coffee.

Why am I afraid of talking to people while at the same time I wish to talk to someone?

For the introvert you are being held back because you are worried about being judged, or you don’t know what to say or … well, for any reason really. Here is an insight that you need to know. You will discover, without realizing, people you talk to are worrying about exactly the same things you are, and feel just as afraid, they just might not show it. You are not alone.

I’m introverted at heart, but that doesn’t mean I have to be shy. The two are quite different, and realizing that shyness is a habit that can be broken was a big first step in understanding that I can develop social skills.

Realize it isn’t all about you. The trick I learned through the years was to focus on the other person. Make them the center of the attention.

Instead of hiding behind texting or emails, go down the hall and talk to that person face to face.

The cool thing about having a camera and on an assignment it was the ice breaker. Telling them I am on an assignment and I would love to feature them in a photo and tell their story really worked most of the time.

Fireman [X-E3, XF55-200mm ƒ/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS, ISO 400, ƒ/4.8, 1/100]What I also learned was that once I was just talking to someone and getting to know them I was now “Close Enough” to shoot with a wide angle lens and the photos were much better.

I would then take photos with those wider lenses and slowly move back to shooting with a moderate telephoto lens. For my full framed Nikon D5 that go to lens is the Nikon 85mm ƒ/1.8 lens for a portrait.

18mm [X-E3, XF18-55mm ƒ/2.8-4 R LM OIS, ISO 200, ƒ/3.2, 1/200]Most of the students just have an 18-55mm lens on a cropped sensor camera. So here is me using the same lens as they have on similar cropped sensor. I am showing how to shoot from wide to close as you back out. The other thing I want them to do is to walk around the subject and shoot them from different angles.

28mm [X-E3, XF18-55mm ƒ/2.8-4 R LM OIS, ISO 200, ƒ/3.2, 1/140]Now this is the moving around the subject. I am looking for an interesting and captivating image.

44mm [X-E3, XF18-55mm ƒ/2.8-4 R LM OIS, ISO 200, ƒ/4, 1/160]Now when shooting from the back I try my best to still show their face. Sometimes it might work without their face.

42mm [X-E3, XF18-55mm ƒ/2.8-4 R LM OIS, ISO 200, ƒ/4, 1/140]Now go to the other side and see what that looks like.

55mm [X-E3, XF18-55mm ƒ/2.8-4 R LM OIS, ISO 320, ƒ/6.4, 1/60]When shooting an event I am doing this exercise over and over and over again. I want to have at least 10 to 30 images of which I will pick only one of them for the photo story package.

“Spray and Pray” is a common phrase associated with the practice of shooting rapid fire, as many images as possible, and then hoping and praying that you’ve got something good. That approach almost never works. Notice in these examples I am moving and taking a couple a frames.

There are a couple times where a motor drive can help. In those cases, such as photographing things like sports, doing panning shots, or anything with action like birds or wildlife – shooting in burst mode, and taking multiple frames at a time, will likely help you get some good images.

I have found that trying to get your first photo to be the one you want is much better than just starting to fire randomly and then picking an image later.

I personally suggest slowing down and actually taking less photos, than the “Spray and Pray” mode. I am always looking.

When you are starting out it is really better to over shoot. You need to push yourself early and as you get more aware of what will work and not work. You will find yourself walking around subject and exploring and picking moments and compositions.

Post navigation

Signup for notifications on Blogs

Name

Email*

Donate to this blog

This blog is my way of giving back. This is one of the ways I earn a living for my family. Any support is greatly appreciated.

Disclosure: Please note that links to merchants posted on this blog may be an affiliate link which means that I may receive a commission from any purchases made using the affiliate link. This is at no additional cost to you.